UK playwork field in dispute with employer body over standards review

The group responsible for developing the statement of principles that is widely recognised as defining the emerging profession of playwork is in open dispute with the employer body licensed by the UK government to establish and develop occupational standards for the sector.

The Playwork Principles Scrutiny Group (PPSG), convened and hosted by the national body, Play Wales, is alleging a ‘breach of trust between SkillsActive and the playwork profession’ if the sector skills council goes ahead with its proposed revision of the National Occupational Standards for Playwork.

In a statement on the Play Wales website, the group calls for the new ‘Values, Behaviours and Skills’ statements proposed for the new standards to be abandoned, as they contradict, in places, the established Play Work Principles, which, says the group, ‘describe what is unique about playwork… have been universally adopted and … are referenced in job descriptions, induction programmes and organisational policies and procedures’.

Play Wales is urging anyone with an interest, and who shares the concerns raised by the Playwork Principles Scrutiny Group, to respond to SkillsActive’s consultation by Thursday 8 October 2015.

 The Playwork Principles Scrutiny Group statement can be read here

 More information about the SkillsActive consultation can be read here

Author: Adrian Voce

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